"I never threatened her, pushed her, shoved her or pointed a finger at her." — Dr. William Crews A former Gaffney pastor who spreads the Good News through a television show and the Internet found himself on the defensive last week against the bad news of his arrest on a domestic violence charge that forced him to spend a night behind bars.

Dr. William Crews, host of The Awakening Hour television show, was booked into the Spartanburg County Detention Center for criminal domestic violence on July 29 and released the following day on $1,000 bond.

The version of events that made television news last week was "grossly distorted," he said.

Speaking on Friday about his arrest, Crews said the charge should never have been brought against him and that he hoped the matter would soon be dismissed.

While he said he did have an argument with his wife on July 29, he said the matter should never have gone as far as it did.

"I never threatened her, pushed her, shoved her or pointed a finger at her," he said.

He said efforts were under way to get the charge dropped before a court date later his month. His attorney couldn't be reached for immediate comment Friday afternoon.

According to an incident report at the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office, a deputy was dispatched to the Crews home on Suttles Road in Inman at 7:16 p.m. July 29 regarding a report of domestic violence and spoke with Crews' wife, Freda, who said her husband "caused her to fear for her safety enough to lock herself in a bathroom with a gun."

Freda Crews allegedly told the officer that her husband came to the home intoxicated while she was sleeping, that they began to argue and she came to fear for her safety. She reportedly called her daughter to call 911 after she locked herself in the bathroom, according to the police report.

The officer said William Crews admitted consuming alcohol, as well as having a gun in the glove box of his car.

Neither Crews nor his wife had any injuries, the officer wrote.

"Quite frankly, I feel I've done nothing wrong," Crews said Friday. "I should not have been in an argument. But what husband and wife doesn't get in an argument?"

A biography on the Web site for Crews' ministry describes Crews as leading an early life as a professional pool hustler who later became an alcoholic. Subsequently saved from a "life of deep sin," Crews went on to preach the Gospel. He has pastored numerous churches, including East Gaffney Baptist Church, and earned six degrees, including a doctorate at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, according to his online biography.

Crews said he was not drunk July 29, though he acknowledged having some wine. He said he developed a heart condition three years ago that results in widely fluctuating and irregular heart rates. The heart condition was bothering him that night and so he drank some wine for medicinal purposes, he said. "Often times that will stop it," he said.

As to the gun in his glove box listed in the police report, Crews said the gun had nothing to do with the July 29 argument. He said he kept the gun in his car because of a death threat that was made against him.

Crews said he and his wife still are together and that she wanted the charge dropped against him.

His Web site made no mention of the arrest. "I plan to preach Sunday," he said. "I don't plan to mention it. And all those who have questions to ask me, I will ask them to remain behind and I will tell them the correct version (of what happened)."